Elections: Heavy security at National Collation Center, environs

Security is tight at the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja, venue of the collation and announcement of results of the March 28 Presidential Election. Military personnel and other security operatives have cordoned off the road leading to the center to present people from passing through. Vehicles were also diverted to other routes around the area.

A portion of the Olusegun Obasanjo Way in Area 10 that leads to the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), FCT, is also manned by security personnel and motorists were forced to use one lane of the road.

Also, the entrance to the Government Secondary School, Garki, off Moshood Abiola Road in Area 10, has been blocked by security agents and motorists were made to use one side of the road. Some motorists told newsmen that the security measure had inconvenienced them. Mr Sunday Ogo said the present situation did not call for such “stringent’’ measures. ”It has not come to this, roads should not be blocked because of election results.

”The security agents are supposed to devise means to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order,” Ogo said. Mrs Deborah Ajanaku, however, commended the measure, “because many hoodlums may take advantage of the situation to cause trouble’’. Ajanaku, however, advised the security agents to direct traffic to prevent the situation from becoming a gridlock. Meanwhile, traffic is light in major roads in the FCT as few motorists and other road users are plying them because of the anticipated announcement of the presidential election results.

Few cars ply the ever-busy Nyanya-Mararaba route and Garki Area 1 and Airport roads, among the routes visited. Mr Paul Atabor, a taxi driver, said,“I have been working since morning but I got few passengers because not many people are on the road”.“Most people are staying at home waiting to observe reactions to the announcement of the March 28 presidential elections.
Similarly, Mr Wasiu Agbaje, a trader at Area 1 Shopping Complex, lamented the low turnout of customers at the market. “It is not unconnected with the ongoing announcement of results of the election as many people are afraid of repeat of the 2011 election violence. Miss Patricia Zhin, a job applicant, said her effort to attend a job interview on Monday was defeated due to the announcement of the election result. According to Zhin, the office where she was to attend the interview was closed because of the expected announcement.